Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

Q:After a cruise, I was upset to find that solid ground felt like it was moving. This was very annoying, though it did not make me sick. A friend said ginger worked great for seasickness, so I sliced three pieces of ginger root into hot water and let it steep. The ginger tea made the ground stop moving that same day.

A:People often don't anticipate that sensation of solid ground swaying beneath their feet after they have accustomed themselves to being on a boat. We're glad to hear that ginger tea worked as well for that strange feeling as it does against actual seasickness.

Q:After dieting and exercising hard for the past year, I managed to get my cholesterol down from over 260 to below 220. Then sore joints led me to take glucosamine and chondroitin. Now my cholesterol is up over 240. I think there is a connection.

My doctor recommended Certo and grape juice to lower my cholesterol and possibly ease my arthritis pain. How much do I need, and is there anything else natural I could try to control my cholesterol and triglycerides?

A:Research has not confirmed that glucosamine and chondroitin raise cholesterol, but other readers have reported a similar problem. You may be interested to note that grape juice has been shown to lower cholesterol. Soluble fiber in the form of liquid plant pectin (Certo) may have a similar benefit. Many readers tell us the combination also helps ease arthritis pain.

One recipe involves putting 2 teaspoons of Certo in 3 ounces of grape juice and drinking it three times daily.

Fish oil can be helpful for lowering triglycerides, while psyllium can also reduce cholesterol levels.

Q:I had headaches for more than 30 years - migraine, tension, cluster, you name it. The Group Health Pain Clinic told me to take mega doses of vitamin B-2, and no painkillers.

I learned I had been causing my own headaches because of a rebound effect from the pain relievers. My headaches stopped in less than 30 days, and I have been headache-free for more than a decade.

The vitamin costs me $7 for 100 tablets. I found a study online that talks about this use of riboflavin (B-2). Multivitamins won't work because you would get far too much of the other ingredients for 200 milligrams of B-2.

A:Many other people have been caught in the vicious cycle of taking medicine that causes headaches (as it wears off), for which they take more medicine.

Both prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers can cause this painful reaction, but the use of vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) does not seem to cause this kind of rebound.

In a recent review, neurologists discussed migraine prevention and concluded: “Patients can choose between evidence-based nutraceuticals such as riboflavin, feverfew, butterbur or coenzyme Q10, or more traditional pharmacotherapeutics [drugs]” (Current Treatment Options in Neurology, January 2008).

Q:My 81-year-old mom is currently prescribed allopurinol to prevent gout, enalapril and labetalol for high blood pressure, metformin for diabetes, Plavix to thin her blood, Zocor to control cholesterol, plus extra magnesium and potassium (Klor-Con).

She exhibits confusion, symptoms of dementia and dizziness, and has fallen several times. I think these medications may be excessive, and at this stage some may even be counterproductive. Opinion?

A:Your mother's medicines could be having an impact on her overall health. A physician who specializes in geriatric medicine should review her situation because we have detected some potential problems.

Allopurinol can cause sleepiness, while labetalol and Plavix both may cause dizziness and fatigue. Some readers have reported severe muscle weakness and memory problems with statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs like Zocor (simvastatin). Metformin can deplete the body of vitamin B-12, which may lead to confusion and forgetfulness.

Far more worrisome is the combination of potassium with enalapril. This could lead to a life-threatening complication.

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